Jesse Kalima
Jesse Kalima | |
---|---|
Birth name | Jesse Kaleihia Andre Kalima |
Born | October 31, 1920 Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii |
Died | July 13, 1980 |
Occupation(s) | Live performer |
Instrument(s) | Ukulele |
Years active | 1935-1980 |
Past members | Junior Kalima, Henry Mucha, Honey Kalima, Albert Kalima, Julian Gaspar, Henry Mucha, Richard Kauhi, Little Joe Kekaoha, Johnny Waikiki |
Jesse Kaleihia Andre Kalima (1920–1980) was an ukulele player.
He was born in Honolulu on October 31, 1920, at a time when the ukulele was just becoming recognized for its capability to be played as a solo instrument.
Early years
Kalima's mother, Amy Pakiko of Napoʻopoʻo, was a teacher a singer and musician and taught him to play the ʻukulele at the age of six. In 1926, Jesse's father died and his mother married Solomon Kalima. At age 9, Jesse would perform while his mother did the hula for territorial political rallies.[1]
Kalima attended Farrington High School and played in the orchestra and school band while a student. He loved the marches he learned and when he learned a march on the tenor saxophone and clarinet, he would figure out how to play it on the ukulele.[2] At age 15, Kalima burst into the public music scene, and is credited with accelerating the development of the solo ukulele, when he won the 1935 Territorial Amateur Contest at Honolulu's Princess Theater with his rendition of "Stars and Stripes Forever".[3]
Contributions
Kalima was the first person known to have strung his tenor with a low G, rather than the standard re-entrant tuning.[4] Kalima popularized the use of the tenor size ukulele and was one of the first to use an amplifier with his instrument.[5]
Jesse worked for the Shell Oil Company and in 1940 he married Dorothy Louise Routh Halouska. In addition to performing on a regular basis, he ran a small store where he sold ukuleles under his name and gave lessons.[6] Jesse Kalima died on July 13, 1980.
The Hawaii House of Representatives passed a House Resolution in 1981 honoring his memory and artistic achievements.
Kalima was inducted into the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame in 2007.[5]: 280
Discography
- Holiday in Hawaii: Luau Time, LP, Sounds of Hawaii
- Jess Uke, LP, Sounds of Hawaii
- Jesse Kalima and Sons, LP
- Nanakuli Ea, flip side Richard Boone's Slack Key, single
- Dark Eyes, single
- Gone With the Wind, single
- Only Ashes Remain, single
Other Credits
- Kona Coast, movie, musical score
- Mark Waters Story, documentary, musical score
References
- ^ Ohta, Jr., Herb. "Appreciation of Jesse Kalima". Herb Ohta, Jr.
- ^ Marxer, Marcie. "Gods of Uke: Jesse Kalima". Ukulele Magazine. Stringletter Publishing.
- ^ Tranquada, Jim (2012). The Ukulele: A History. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. p. 151. ISBN 978-0-8248-3634-4.
- ^ Marxer, Marcie. "Gods of Uke: Jesse Kalima". Ukulele Magazine. Stringletter Publishing.
- ^ a b Kanahele, George (2012). Hawaiian Music & Musicians. Honolulu: Mutual Publishing. p. 841. ISBN 978-1-56647-967-7.
- ^ Ohta, Jr., Herb. "Appreciation of Jesse Kalima". Herb Ohta, Jr.
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- Likelike
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- Helen Desha Beamer
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- Sol K. Bright Sr.
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- Joseph Kekuku
- Charles E. King
- Lena Machado
- Mary Kawena Pukui
- Victoria K. I`i Rodrigues
- Albert "Sonny" Cunha
- Sol Hoʻopiʻi
- Alvin Kaleolani Isaacs
- Haunani Kahalewai
- Mekia Kealakaʻi
- John Kameaaloha Almeida
- Irmgard Farden Aluli
- Robert Alexander Anderson
- Bina Mossman
- David Nape
- Songs honored: Hawaii Aloha, Ua Like No A Like, Kaulana Na Pua, Makalapua and Na Ali`i
- Maddy Lam
- Hawaiian Chanters: Keaulumoku, Ka`opulupulu, Kapoukahi, Kapihe and Hewahewa
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- Alfred Alohikea
- Kahauanu Lake Trio
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- Henry W. Waia`u
- Mahi Beamer
- The Brothers Cazimero
- Charles K.L. Davis
- Linda Dela Cruz
- Nina Keali`iwahamana
- Emma Veary
- Bill Ka'iwa
- Jesse Kalima
- Eddie Kamae
- Donald McDiarmid Sr.
- Peter Moon
- Marlene Sai
- John Pi'ilani Watkins
- Joseph Ae'a
- Elizabeth "Lizzie" Kahau Kauanui Alohikea
- Anuhea Audrey Brown
- Thomas Kihei Desha Brown
- Alice Angeline Johnson
- John Keola Lake
- Albert Po'ai Nahale-a Sr.
- Leo Nahenahe Singers
- Palani Vaughan
- James Kaʻupena Wong
- Hui Ohana
- Thomas Sylvester Kalama
- Dennis Kamakahi
- Ma'iki Aiu Lake
- Kui Lee
- Pat Namaka Bacon
- Andy Cummings
- Ernest Kaʻai
- Richard Kauhi Quartet
- Keali'i Reichel
- Joseph Ilalaole
- Benny Kalama
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- Akoni Mika
- Alice Namakelua
- Olomana
- James Pihanui Kuluwaimaka Palea
- Ka Leo Hawai‘i
- George Kainapau
- Makaha Sons of Ni'ihau
- George Na'ope
- Harry Owens
- Song honored: Hawaii Ponoi
- Kamaka Hawaii, Inc. (ukulele maker)
- Matthew H. Kane
- Iolani Luahine
- Napua Stevens
- Don Ho
- Lokalia Montgomery
- Lei Collins
- Halekulani Girls (Alice Fredlund, Sybil Bright Andrews, Linda Dela Cruz)
- Jerry Byrd
- Darrell Lupenui
- Thaddius Wilson
- O'Brian Eselu
- Johnny Noble
- Jean “Kini” Sullivan
- John Kaimikaua
- Mamo Howell
- Danny Kaleikini
- Richard “Babe” Bell
- The Isaacs ‘Ohana
- The Kanaka’ole ‘Ohana
- Krash Kealoha
- Jacqueline "Skylark" Rossetti
- Kimo Kahoano
- Karen Keawehawai’i
- Melveen Leed
- Israel Kamakawiwoʻole
- Beamer ‘Ohana (Nona, Keola, Kapono)
- Bray ‘Ohana (Daddy and Lydia Bray)
- Ho‘opi‘i Brothers (Richard and Solomon)
- Kahananui ‘Ohana (Dorothy Kahananui and Dorothy Gillett)
- Saichi Kawahara
- Literary award: He Mele Aloha: A Hawaiian Songbook (Vicky Hollinger, Kimo Hussey, Puakea Nogelmeier, Carol Wilcox), The Queen’s Songbook (Dorothy Kahananui Gillett, Barbara Smith and Hui Hanai)
- Pua Haʻaheo
- Marta Hohu
- Leila Hohu Kiaha
- David “Feet” Rogers
- Harry B. Soria Jr.
- Kauʻi Zuttermeister
- Hawaiian Room musicians from the Lexington Hotel, NYC
- Paused due to the global pandemic
- Jules Ah See
- Kihei de Silva
- Mapuana de Silva
- Kawaikapuokalani Hewitt
- David Kalama
- Makua Laiana
- Lorenzo Lyons
- Mary P. Robins